Corrosion-resistant fluid container



Sept. 20, 1960 w. L. DUNN coRRosIoN-RESISTANT FLUID CONTAINER Filed Feb. 28. 1958 INVENTOR. lA/f/bur l.. Dunn United StatesmPatent O 2,953,276 CoRRosIoN-RESISTANT FLUID CoNTAINER j Filed Feb. 28,A 1958, Ser. No. 718,245 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-5) 'The present invention relates to enclosures,k or containers, for iluids of a corrosive nature. More particularly, lthe invention relates to means for protecting the internal surfaces of an enclosure from attack by corrosive uids.

In the oil fields steel is usuallyused to make containers, or tanks,Y to hold corrosive petroleum or water. Wood and plastic have been used for construction of these vessels, but various factorsdictate the more general usage of steel. Certain typesofsteel are available which will resist the corrosive properties of a wide variety of uids, including those in the oil elds. However, these types of steel are usually quite expensive and correspondingly uneconomical for tank construction. There-r fore, there is clearly a problem of providing a comb-ina@ tion of materials, and an arrangement whichwill have suicient strength to contain large amounts of corrosive fluids, resist the corrosiveproperties of the uids `and yet compare economically to containers made of corrodible steel.

.Metallic tanks and other containers employ both Y welded and bolted constructions -to join prefabricated panels `together in forming the unitary vessel. The bolted construction has the distinct advantage of enablingjthe parts for a relatively large container to be individually lfabricated in ashop, transported to anferection site and assembled into the completed vessel with-relatively unskilled labor. It is with the form of the panels, and resulting containers, of this patricular construction with which the present invention is concerned. Y This invention contemplates the erection, orV construction, of la tank, container or conduit in which prefabrif Icated plates, or panels,'are lfastened together `in erect-ion of the vessel. Flexible and preformed coverings of corrosion-resistant'material are sized so one covering may be readily placed about each panel inan arrangement Awhich produces a container -in which only the material of the coverings is exposed to ,corrosive -uids therein. The invention -further contemplates that the `coverings of corrosion-resistant material will be so sized andl shaped that when .arranged on their respectivefplates they will permit the plates to be joined to each otherin the usual manner with simple fastenings.. Further, vthe shape Vand arrangement of the material may co-operate with gasket jrmaterialfat the bjuncture Vseam between plates ,so as to add to the efliciency of fluid sealing at that point. It is ffurther contemplated that the coverings may be so sized .and arranged as to: function, themselves, as -gaskets in the juncture seals between plates, obviating the needrfor additional gasket structure.- Y l An object of the present invention is to'pfovide a 2 i, manually insertable, continuous and unbroken, barrier'v between a corrosive fluid agent and the internal surfaces of a container for the fluid as a part of the construction.

of the container. .A

Another object of the presentinvention is to-provide a unitary protective covering for a body of structural material which can be readily placed about the body with simple, manual, operations. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a unitary protective covering for each panel of a container or enclosure, which can be placed aboutthe panels as a step in assembly of the panels into the container, or enclosure. p Y

A further object of the invention is to contain iluidsfof corrosive properties with an enclosure erected with panel sections, havingcorners formed with adjacent edges joining at relatively sharp angles, and made of material corrodible by the iluids, by providing a unitary, moldable, exible, unbroken, protective covering for each section which can be placed about the panel prior to fastening all panels together to form the fluid containing enclosure iu which the corrosive fluids do not come into contact with the material of the panel sections. Y. v

A further objectof the invention is to provideunitary protective coverings for each panel of a container, or enclosure, which can be arranged about the panels in such a way as to permit bolt and nut combinations tobe utilized in fastening the panelstogether at their yedges to form the fluid-containing enclosure.v .A

Another object of the invention is to providea'unitary protective covering for a body of structural material `in an arrangement whichwill simultaneously function as a complete barrierto corrosive fluids within a container formed by the panels kand to act as a gasket at the point of juncture between the panels. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective illustration of a tank constructed in'accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation in perspective of one ofthe panel sections of the tank of Fig. l with a section ofl its protective covering broken away to show its relationshipto the body of the panel; Fig. 3 is a cross-section in elevation of an edge of the panel of Fig. 2 along the lines 3 3;

Fig. 4 is an elevated cross-section-of a representative joint between the-panels of the tank of Fig. l.-

Referring speciiically to Fig. 1, a cylindrical tank 1 is used to represent enclosures, containers, or vessels, of various shapes and sizes which use theinvention. As illustrated, tank 1 may be .used to store fluids, or collect nids from a number of sources for redistribution. Additionally, the tank 1 maybe used to measure the quantity of iluids stored or collected therein. The purpose of the tank is incidental to the present invention, directed as 4it is to the problem of completely protecting vthe material of the body of the tank panels from the corrosive action :of fluids that may be placed within the tank..

Fig. l makes it readily lapparent thatcylindrical tank 1 is erected by joining together prefabricatedY panels- 2. Panels 2 are illustrated as kbolted to eachother, attheir edges, by rows 3 of bolt-nut combinations. Each ofi-the panels 2 may be preformed in ShopL operations as apart vof the cylindrical tanks they will become injorder" that their bolt holes will properly align with each other when Patented Sept. 20, 1969,;

the tank is erected in the eld. Relatively unskilled personnel may be utilized to pass bolt-nut combinations, as simple fastening means, through the aligned holes on the edges of adjacent panels 2. Fig. 4 gives an illustration of how panels 2 are joined together in a simple overlapping seam in the hoop direction. Chimes 4 are utilized in the vertical direction to form the necessary juncture seam.

Fig. 2 illustrates one of the cylindrical segment side panels 2 in an elevated perspective to reveal the details of its construction in accordance with the invention. As illustrated in Fig. l, tank 1 appears to be an ordinary, bolted, tank for receiving liquids. However, the remaining figures illustrate the structure which enables the tank, or enclosure to contain fluids of a highly corrosive nature without destroying, or deteriorating, corrodible metal when used as the body of panel-plates 2.

l As illustrated in Fig. 2, the present invention contemplates the provision of a unitary, moldable, flexible protective covering 5 for the body 6 of panel 2. Body 6 is prefabricated of economical, but corrodible, metal in a shop for ready combination with other panels in forming tank 1. Chimes 4 are formed thereon, 4the flat plate shape of the body 6 is given the desired arcuate formation in the hoop direction of the tank and bolt holes 7 are arranged in rows 3 for receiving the simple fastening means therethrough.

` Over the preformed body 6 of panel i2 there is arranged the covering 5 of a flexible material which is impervious and chemically resistant to fluids to be contained by the tank. This covering is preferably molded of one of the plastic materials which will provide the desired imperviousness and chemical resistivity while retaining suiiicient exibility to cling and conform to the contours of body 6. This close conformance to the contours of body 6 has been illustrated by showing a corner of the material 5 as broken away at 8. The general arrangement of the covering about the body 6 can be gathered from Fig. 2. Additional features of this combination of the body and covering structures can be gathered from Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a view taken along 3-3 of Fig. 2 to show, in cross-section, how the covering 5 is molded with a lip 9 which is led around and over the edge, and corners formed of adjacent edges joining at relatively sharp angles, of body 6. It can be appreciated that the unitary covering for each body 6 is molded to a size which will permit relatively easy manual placement of the covering article over body 6 and yet remain thereon by the gripping provided by turned-over lips 9 on the edges and sharp corners of the covering 5. Body 6, in Fig. 3 is a portion of the tank 1 cylinder .with an outwardly extending flange from each arcuate end of the portion. The unitary covering for each body 6 has a preformed shape which generally follows the shape given body 6 and which has outwardly extending flanges which cover the plate anges. Further, the free ends of the anges and body of the covering have a reversely bent continuous lip 9 which grippingly engages the free edges of the body 6 to maintain the covering mounted on the body.

Additionally, from Fig. 3, it can be appreciated that holes 10 in covering 5 can be formed, or cut, in the material of covering 5 to align with holes 7 in the edges of panel material 6. These holes 10 could be preformed in covering 5 or cut therein by some form of punch after covering 5 had been arranged about body 6.

The combination of body 6, preformed of material which renders the plate 2 structtually rigid and facilitates its incorporation with similar plates into the complete tank 1, can now be appreciated as entering yinto a combination with the covering 5 of flexible material which s impervious and chemically resistant to fluids contained by the tank while arranged as a unitary and removable article about the plate 6 so as to present a continuous and unbroken surface of the material of covering 5 to completely seal the uid against contact with the body 6 without need for bonding between adjacent coverings 5.

To more fully illustrate the structure of a junction between plates 2, Fig. 4 is provided. The illustration of Fig. 4 makes the arrangement clear as to how the plates 2 are simply arranged to overlap in order that their holes will align and permit bolt 11 to be passed through them. A nut 12 is provided on the bolt with which to draw the plates 2 together, with at least a part of one of their coverings therebetween, in forming a leak-proof junction. 'Ihe turned-over lips 9 of the coverings 5 are preferably terminated short of the bolt holes. However,

it may be desirable that the lips be extended past the bolt holes, with only the minor complication of properly aligning preformed holes -in the material of covering 5 on both sides of holes 7.

In `drawing up bolt 11 with nut 12, head 13 presents a problem in that the material of bolt 11 might be attacked by the corrosive fluid of the tank and the edges of the head might well rip the material of covering 5. Therefore, it is desirable to either make bolt 11 of a material which willresist the corrosive characteristics of the tank fluids or provide a barrier between the bolt and ud by means of a covering 14. This covering 14 may be of plastic material similar to that selected for covering 5. Further, to'prevent a high unit loading stress between the underside of the bolt head 13 and the material of cover 5, angle 15 of uon-corrodible material is provided in order to present a larger bearing surface against the covering 5. If desirable, this back-up member 15 could be made of corrodible material and covered with plastic as bolt head 13 is shown. Y

Seal of the joint of Fig. 4 against fluid leakage can be obtained by use of a gasket 16 between the joined edges of panels 2. It is additionally contemplated by the invention that the material of covering 5 be of sufficient thickness to act as a gasket material itselfwhile simultaneously providing a barrier between the tank uid and the material of body 6. With either arrangement, the result is a readily obtained sealing function to prevent fluid loss at the juncture of the panels 2.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apJ paratus. 4 v l It ,will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described, what is claimed A prefabrioated plate with which to form a cylindrical tank for uids including;

a body of structurally rigid material with,

a main section in the form of a cylinder portion,

and a flange extending outwardly from each arcuate end of the main section;

a covering of exible material which is impervious and chemically resistant to fluids to be contained bythe tank when mounted on the body as a liner for the tank and having,

a main section preformed to correspond in shape to the main section of the body, Y

anges corresponding in shape to the body flanges and extending outwardly to cover thebody flanges,

and a reversely bent continuous lip on the free edges of the main section and flanges, which lip grippingly engages the free edges of the body and the free edges of the body anges respectively;

5 and apertures extending through the free edges of the main section and the flanges of the body and the covering mounted thereon to receive fastening means for joining similar plates in the xed rel-ation required to form the tank with the coverings of the plates on the 5 interior of the tank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 220,748 Brownell Oct. 21, 1879 10 6 Griiths Mar. 9, 1926 Hapgood Sept. 26, 1933 Scudder Dec. 22, 1936 Bond Sept. 18, 1951 Murdock et al. Dec. 6, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 22, 1922 Germany Dec. 13, 1930 

